Outreach Group

“As you will have seen, the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has announced his resignation. Andy Burnham is now the clear front-runner to become the next Prime Minister. If there is no full Labour leadership contest, he could be in office by mid-July. This is a very important moment in defeating the revived Leadbeater assisted suicide Bill, which has been brought back by Lauren Edwards MP and is due to have its Second Reading on 11 September. That is why I am asking you to urgently email your MP today using the new tool we have just launched. It includes important new information MPs need to see, and asks them to vote NO on 11 September. If Burnham becomes Prime Minister before Parliament returns, he could arrive back in Westminster on 1 September facing an immediate and divisive fight over assisted suicide, just ten days before the vote on 11 September. At the New Statesman commented, ‘...it is hard to see a world in which he would welcome this Labour Party-dividing legislation” - and if it is not defeated on 11 September, we could see this issue totally dominating the beginning of his time in power.’ If MPs hear clearly from their constituents now that the last thing the country needs is another parliamentary session dominated by this dangerous Bill, there is a good chance that more MPs will vote NO on 11 September. We at Right to Life UK are already hearing from MPs that their inboxes are being flooded by supporters of the assisted suicide Bill. Dignity in Dying is putting pressure on MPs to vote for the Bill, and they will be putting huge pressure on Andy Burnham too.” Please use the link to contact your MP Write to MP to vote NO on the new assisted suicide Bill on 11 Sept – Easy tool Many thanks.

The Dorking foodbank is looking for the following items this month:  honey, marmalade, coffee, tea, washing tablets and razors but all personal hygiene items (body wash, shampoo) and non-perishable food are always gratefully received. If you are able please donate to the Foodbank Box inside the side door and it will be taken to the depot by members of our congregation. Alternatively, consider donating on line to the Trussell Trust which runs foodbanks throughout the country.

Admissions to Catholic Schools and the Certificate of Catholic Practice: -The Diocesan Education Service has updated its Admission Policies to bring it in line with the National Catholic Education Service and to ensure compliance with the mandatory School Admission Code which all Admission Authorities are legally required to follow. Our schools will still prioritise Catholic applicants and a certificate of Baptism will still be used to identify this. This will eventually remove the requirement to seek a parish priest’s signature on the Supplementary Information Forms' (SIFs). However, in any case where a school is oversubscribed with Catholic applicants, it will be necessary to rank further the Catholic applicants. To do this a 'Certificate of Catholic Practice' (CCP) will be used in which the local priest(s) will affirm that 'this child and his/her family are known to me and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the child is from a practising Catholic family'. (The Guidance from the Diocese, following the National Catholic Education Service model, states that for the purposes of the Certificate of Catholic Practice, a person is a practising Catholic if they observe the Church’s precept of attending Mass on Sundays and holidays of obligation.) This certificate will be needed for those applying from this autumn for a place at St Andrew’s for Admission in September 2027, and going forward. Initially, in moving to a new system, the onus will be on parish clergy to make a judgement on these matters. However, Deanery clergy and the Diocesan Education Service are working on a form for use in coming years whereby families can indicate and celebrate their participation at Mass; indeed families should regard the change as a reminder of the need to be engaged with the life of the local Church, that is, the parish – not simply because they desire a school place for their child but because it is first and foremost their faith community, because worshipping God and being fed by Christ in word and Sacrament is what we are about and because, as children of God, families want their children to be supported in their journey of faith.  More comprehensive details can be found on the parish and St. Joseph’s School web sites and the bright yellow coloured sheet on the shelf by the side entrance of the church.

Please continue to pray for those undertaking public exams and for their families. These can therefore be anxious and tense times, both for those undertaking exams and for their families and friends, so, even if you are not directly involved in such matters, please do keep those concerned in your prayers. Very many thanks.

The disability group have set up a petition requesting that MPs do not cave to the pressure of bringing back the ‘Assisted Dying Bill’ tabled by Kim Leadbeater but which ‘fell due to a lack of time’. You can find the petition and contact your MP at:- Tell your MP to help stop the assisted dying Bill from returning Many thanks.

GIFT AID ENVELOPES 2026/2027 :- As always, our grateful thanks to all those who are able to make financial contribution to the parish via the ‘Gift Aid’ scheme. For those who do so via the envelope system, we are pleased to tell you the envelopes for this tax year 26/27 are available in the sacristy, please collect your box with your name on a printed label on it at the earliest opportunity. Very many thanks.  Gift Aid and the ‘card machines ’:- Just a reminder that parish and diocesan donations via the card machine can be ‘Gift Aided’ if the card has been registered on one of the machines for Gift Aid, with the proviso that you, the donor, use the same ‘bank card’ each time to make any such donation. We will advise in the next couple of weeks of someone being available to assist and help / show individuals wishing to make ‘Gift Aided’ contributions in this way. That said, we advise that ‘third party donations’ such as CAFOD where Gift Aid is encouraged, would require individuals to put their details on the envelopes provided by the charity and indicate ‘donation via card payment’, with the amount specified; this will then be forwarded to the particular charity. Very many thanks for your understanding.

St Joseph's School is seeking one more Foundation Governors to support the school in its work. This is a fantastic way to volunteer in the community and to apply your skills and experience to help the school improve and flourish. Please contact the school office at: office@stjosephs-dorking.surrey.sch.uk to find out more, or drop in to the school any time!

“Last year, we finished with 7 colonies and as the weather got colder we left them with plenty of food to help sustain them during the winter. Sadly, when the weather was warm enough to start up inspections for this season there was only one colony left. However, it went from strength to strength and a couple of weeks later, we split it into 3 colonies. We have also had 3 swarms and split the first one again, so now we are back up to 7 colonies. It is a fascinating hobby and even if you don’t have time to come weekly, you might just like to come and have a look. If you like the idea then come when you can. We have two spare bee suits. If you would like to come, then phone Tommy on 07941 850036.”

Following the fall of the Leadbeater assisted suicide Bill, fresh bids to introduce an assisted dying law in England and Wales are anticipated. Any new law would likely pressure NHS staff to be involved in some way and offer even less protection to institutions like hospices. You can help protect healthcare workers and hospices by signing the Bios Centre online petition. It calls on Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, to protect conscientious objection rights for religious and personal beliefs. Sign the petition at https://bioscentre.org/petition-on-conscience-protection/ or scan this QR code with your smartphone.